Interest in Co-operative Project Exceeds Expectations

Interest from Alberta communities in the ACCA Rural Co-operative Development Project is nearly double the projected target. Project planners anticipated attracting just over 15 communities. However 29 have expressed interest in participating in the program.

“We hadn’t expected such an overwhelming response,” said Michele Aasgard, ACCA’s Executive Director, “and it will stretch our resources to connect with each of the communities. But we think that this is an important initiative and we’re really encouraged by the interest. It isn’t very often that we get invitations to present information about the co-operative model to 29 rural communities!”

The responses cover the province from Fort Vermilion in the north to Magrath in the south and from Spirit River in the west to Chauvin in the east. In some cases villages have confirmed their interest in participating; in others, groups of villages and municipal districts have responded. In some cases, the responses were made with specific areas of interest such as seniors’ housing. In others, the community is simply interested in the co-operative model and what it has to offer.

“The variety of responses really speaks to the diversity of rural community needs,” notes Aasgard. “This comes as no surprise given the unique nature and the variation in local challenges of those communities. Because co-operatives are such versatile vehicles for community economic development, it is entirely understandable that we would receive such a broad spectrum of interest.”

The next step in the project is to deliver presentations to each of the communities that responded.

The project is funded by the Alberta Rural Development Fund. For more information on the project, contact Richard Stringham, PAg at: coopdev@acca.coop